Why UI Toolkit?
Last updated
Last updated
In summary, Unity UI (uGUI) is ideal if you prioritize familiarity or require 3D elements and custom shaders. UI Toolkit is the better choice if you need scalable, high-performance layouts with modern styling options.
Architecture
GameObject-based, with each UI element as a GameObject and Component
DOM-like visual tree (similar to web) with no GameObject overhead
Scalability
Prefabs provide reusable UI elements but can become cumbersome to manage, especially with complex nested hierarchies and style adjustments
UXML and USS enable reusable, modular UI components with styles applied globally, making it easier to manage and update UI elements consistently across the project
Performance
Higher overhead with many UI elements, due to GameObjects and RectTransforms
More efficient due to lightweight visual elements and optimized rendering
Layout System
Uses RectTransforms and anchors, which can be tricky for responsive layouts
Flexbox layout, more intuitive and powerful for dynamic, responsive UIs
Styling
Customization done through scripting and component adjustments
USS (similar to CSS), allowing for powerful and reusable styling
Ease of Use
Familiar GameObject workflow
Declarative UI (UXML/USS) more complex but promotes cleaner separation between logic and style
Editor Experience
Visible and manipulable directly in the Scene view
Integrated tool called UI Builder
Textureless UI
No
Create visually appealing UI without relying on textures
UI positioned and lit in a 3D world
Yes
Possible to via render textures, but cumbersome to work with
VFX with custom shaders and materials
Yes
No
